"What a spectacular sight~"
Lucas gazed at the tsunami that all but swallowed the sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he offered a sincere word of praise.
There was no denying it—the power of the Shadow Lugia was truly extraordinary.
Although the Lugia species had been revered by the people of the Whirl Islands as guardians of the sea, Lugia themselves actually did not possess the Water-type. Their unique abilities lay in controlling storms—simply beating their wings could whip up a raging tempest lasting three days and three nights.
While Lugia did have some minor control over water, it was nowhere near comparable to the primordial Kyogre. Yet now, this Shadow Lugia was casually creating a monstrous, sky-blotting Surf tsunami.
This feat was owed almost entirely to Shadow Lugia's own overwhelming power.
Of course… the environment helped a little too. Being out at sea made manipulating the surrounding water much easier.
"Spectacular is spectacular, but… aren't you planning to lend them a hand?"
Green narrowed her eyes at the sight before her, then shot Lucas a strange look.
Judging from his attitude, it was obvious—Lucas had zero intention of getting involved.
"You want me to go fight my dear cousin?" Lucas raised a brow and countered with a question of his own.
"…I don't recall you being this close to your 'dear cousin.'"
Green rolled her cute brown eyes. Good grief—when you beat up Lance before, you really didn't seem to care he was your cousin.
"That was different. Back then, we were standing on opposite sides. Now it's not the same."
The corners of Lucas's lips lifted. Back then, he was a member of Team Rocket, while Lance was the League Champion—an identity gap like a chasm between them.
They could only meet as enemies.
But now? It was entirely different.
Even if Lance was "doing evil" at the moment, Lucas had no obligation whatsoever to act on the League's behalf and stop him.
"I don't think Red's group are Lance's match."
Green watched Lucas's attitude and finally understood—he had come purely to watch the show.
But if Lucas wasn't planning to make a move… could Red and N really handle Lance?
Green thought about their odds, and their chances looked painfully slim.
Lance was a top-tier Champion standing at the very peak, and Shadow Lugia was a top-tier legendary. The power the two generated together was overwhelming.
"Who knows," Lucas said with a shrug, eyes fixed on Lance and Shadow Lugia in the distance, watching with great interest.
After all, seeing his beloved cousin in the role of a grand villain—it really was refreshing in a strange way.
"Zekrom, Bolt Strike!"
N's voice rang out sharply. There was no way he could allow that Surf to hit. Absolutely impossible!
Zekrom roared, its tail turbine erupting with crackling electricity. Golden lightning surged across its entire body.
In the next instant, Zekrom launched itself straight toward the Surf!
Bolt Strike!
Zekrom collided with the massive wave, and the deafening blast that followed made everyone's ears ache.
The Surf shuddered mid-advance, and as Zekrom pushed harder, the tidal wave finally crumbled apart.
A massive curtain of water collapsed back into the sea below.
"Thank goodness… we stopped it."
N let out a long breath.
If that Surf had hit Vermilion City, it would have been catastrophic.
"SCREEEEE!"
But just then, Shadow Lugia screeched again, firing a purple-black pulse directly at Zekrom.
Dark Pulse!
"Zekrom, Thunder!"
N's heart tightened. He ordered Zekrom immediately.
Zekrom fell back while lightning flashed across its scales, unleashing a massive Thunder bolt.
"Charizard—Blast Burn!"
Red reacted instantly, commanding his Mega Charizard X to provide cover.
Mega Charizard X shot upward with a powerful flap of its wings, firing a massive blue-black Blast Burn straight toward the incoming Dark Pulse.
BOOM!
The three attacks collided mid-air, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
"Naive."
Lance's cold eyes locked on the clash. Attacks of this level could never compare to Shadow Lugia's.
With another shrill cry, Shadow Lugia expanded its Dark Pulse, overpowering both Thunder and Blast Burn with brutal force.
BOOM!
The Dark Pulse struck Zekrom dead-on!
The black dragon cried out in pain as it was hurled backward. Even without a type disadvantage, taking an attack like that still hurt intensely.
Blue frowned deeply. Zekrom—the Pokémon they had placed all their hopes on—was completely overwhelmed in a head-on clash.
This was… bad.
"Zekrom!"
N called out, worried.
"I'm fine, N. But we can't afford to be careless."
Zekrom's deep telepathic voice echoed in N's mind, heavy with seriousness.
"That Lugia… its strength is terrifying!"
Zekrom steadied itself, eyes locked on the eerie, malevolent black Lugia.
Lugia were considered top-tier legendaries, extremely rare and with their own species line—just like Zekrom. Normally, they should be on equal footing.
Meaning Zekrom should not be weaker than Lugia.
Yet this black Lugia… was clearly anything but normal.
Its oppressive aura, its sinister malice and its devastating attack just now proved that well enough.
"I understand," N answered firmly.
"Give up. No matter what strategy you use… in the face of our superior strength, it's all meaningless."
Lance looked down from above, voice calm and cold.
"Impossible! If we stood by and watched you harm others without resisting, then we would not deserve to stand here at all!"
N answered with equal resolve.
Lance lowered his gaze, studying N.
"As expected of the Trainer chosen by Zekrom. It seems I underestimated you before."
The air hung heavy for a moment. Then Lance's lips curved slightly.
This trainer of the black dragon… had admirable resolve.
But resolve alone could change nothing.
"If you insist on protecting that filthy little rat, then try surviving this."
"Shadow Lugia!"
Lance's icy command rang out.
Shadow Lugia shrieked sharply—so sharp the very air seemed to halt.
White energy gathered and compressed before Shadow Lugia, the air screaming under the pressure.
Lugia's signature move—Aeroblast!
Also known as Aerial Cyclone!
Even though its nature had changed, Shadow Lugia still retained everything from its former self.
Including Aeroblast.
And although its Psychic type had been twisted into Dark, its Flying type remained.
Meaning Aeroblast still received same-type attack bonus!
"Zekrom!"
A crushing wave of danger surged toward them. N's pupils shrank as he shouted.
"ROOOAAAR!"
Zekrom howled, its tail turbine blazing with electricity, golden lightning erupting around its body.
Bolt Strike!
"Blast Burn!"
"Hydro Cannon!"
"Hyper Beam!"
Red, Blue, Zinnia, and Caitlin all ordered their Pokémon to unleash their strongest attacks.
Mega Charizard X formed a massive flame sphere. Mega Blastoise formed a massive water cannonball. Mega Salamence and Mega Metagross generated black destructive beams.
"This level of resistance… is far from enough."
Lance's smile didn't change, cold and unmoved.
As Shadow Lugia unleashed another piercing cry, a white beam filled with slicing winds shot forth—
Aeroblast!
"Go!"
N commanded, and the five Pokémon charged head-on.
Four attacks clashed with Aeroblast first, while the golden-lit Zekrom charged from behind.
"We can do this!"
N's gaze locked on the sky. They had to. This was everything they had.
Their attacks collided—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The explosion rocked the entire coastline.
And then—
"…What?"
Zinnia frowned deeply. Red and Blue's faces turned grim. Caitlin pressed her lips tightly.
As expected… the power gap was simply too vast.
After only a single second of struggle, Shadow Lugia's Aeroblast tore through their combined attacks—
and continued straight toward Zekrom.
Aeroblast vs. Bolt Strike!
The white beam slammed into Zekrom's lightning. Winds and shockwaves burst outward, shaking the battlefield.
Zekrom's lightning held—
but visibly, steadily, it was being forced back.
"Completely outclassed… There's no way they can win."
On the rooftop, Green frowned.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
Even Zekrom couldn't match Shadow Lugia.
"Top-tier legendaries and high-tier legendaries are on completely different levels. Next—hm?"
Lucas had expected this outcome. He was just about to speak when something caught his eye.
A boy stood at the distant street corner, gazing up at Shadow Lugia with burning excitement.
"That kid… really is in Vermilion City?"
Lucas raised a brow. Even from afar, he recognized the boy.
Gray jacket, black pants, black hair, bronze skin.
Goh—the "Poké Ball prodigy," Ash's traveling companion in the new anime series. His dream: to catch every Pokémon in the world, including Mew.
"This kid really isn't afraid of dying, huh? He didn't evacuate?"
Lucas stared incredulously. Vermilion City was almost evacuated by now—especially this dangerous zone, where N's group was fighting Lance.
Yet Goh remained…
Well, he was the co-protagonist of Pokémon Journeys.
Though in truth, Ash's protagonist spotlight was tiny in that series—most of it went to Goh.
Starters, Eternatus, Suicune…
All went to him.
And protagonists? Their "reckless-but-immune-to-death" stat was always maxed.
But with protagonist plot armor, they always survived. Ash and Goh proved that time and time again.
"Lugia! A black Lugia!"
Goh's heart pounded wildly as he stared, overwhelmed with excitement.
He had never wanted to become a Trainer, but he dreamed of catching Mew and other rare Pokémon.
And now—
a legendary Lugia.
A black Lugia, no less!
The sight electrified him.
Meanwhile, on the coast—
Shadow Lugia's Aeroblast surged with renewed force. Zekrom's lightning finally broke, and the dragon was blasted backward into the sea.
"Zekrom!" N cried out.
Zekrom… was down again.
"Oh no!"
Blue's brows tightened.
Zekrom wasn't the only concern—the real danger was Aeroblast.
Without Zekrom blocking it, Aeroblast swept across the coastline—
and shot straight into Vermilion City!
"Ahhh, stop!!!"
Goh, still starstruck, never expected the next moment to bring annihilation.
He turned pale as the devastating beam swept toward him, turning and running in panic.
"Ehhh…"
From the rooftop, Lucas blinked as Aeroblast swallowed Goh completely.
Good grief.
He had just been thinking about how to lecture this Poké Ball maniac—
and in a blink, the guy was gone?
My my~
Without Ash beside him, he still dared to act reckless?
Of course he got caught in the blast.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The place where Aeroblast struck erupted violently. Flames and shockwaves rolled skyward.
When the explosion died down, that entire area was reduced to rubble.
As for Goh…
Well, he was probably vaporized.
Lucas couldn't even see a scrap of clothing.
Even Ash would probably be vaporized by an attack like that—let alone Goh.
Good job, Cousin!
(End of Chapter)
(Author's Note: Offering Goh as a sacrifice as promised to certain readers… Honestly, I didn't even plan to include this character. I feel nothing for him. People naturally have favorites and dislikes, and after watching Ash for so many years—frustrating as he can be—I definitely don't want to see a series like Journeys shove in a poorly written "golden child" as a fake co-protagonist. So, I just sidelined him. And Lance doesn't mind taking a life or two.)
TN: Damn Author really killed off Goh for real.